So what if we did a parody of a celebrity-narrated, PSA-style commercial that you think is about some noble cause (such as “Save the Whales”), but then it’s revealed to actually be a passionate call to action to help yourself (as in “Save the Money”)?

With Groupon, people act together to help themselves by getting great deals. The gist of the concept is this: When groups of people act together to do something, it’s usually to help a cause. (The Chinese didn’t like the fact that the commercial declared the Tibetan people “in trouble” - a fact they vehemently dispute and, obviously, Tibetans don’t like it because their plight has been cheapened by becoming the set up for a $15 coupon.)ĭespite all the righteous indignation, however, Groupon has defended (or at least explained) the commercial on the company blog: And the hate-fest has only increased this morning, with outlets like Forbes reporting that both Chinese and Tibetan activists were outraged by the ad. Seconds after the spot aired, Twitter erupted with posts of outrage about the commercial. “But they still whip up an amazing fish curry!” says Hutton, now sitting comfortably in a restaurant.įrom here, he segues into why Groupon is so great: Members of Groupon saved a life-changing $15 on dinner at Himalayan restaurant in Chicago! Yes, 15 whole dollars! Hurray!īy using the troubles of the Tibetan people to advertise its services, Groupon managed to infuriate, well, everyone. Groupon will take to the airwaves with Super Bowl ad Not interested in football? Tivo lets you watch the ads and skip the Super Bowl The best Super Bowl commercials of all time

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